Our Facilities

Experience live performances in a range of unique venues, from historic, arena style
Longstreet Theatre to our intimate black box space, located across the university's
downtown Columbia campus.

Performance Spaces

Several performance venues are used to stage productions and serve as laboratories
for classroom instruction.

Longstreet Theatre

Located at the corner of Sumter and Greene Streets, Longstreet Theatre is a 312 seat
arena stage.

Drayton Hall Theatre

Located on College Street between Sumter and Greene Streets, this 404-seat proscenium
theatre was renovated in 1989.

Lab Theatre

Located in the first floor of the Booker T. Washington Building on Wheat St., The
Lab Theatre is our "black box" performance space, established as a laboratory for
undergraduates to explore new ideas and put classroom studies to practical use.

Center for Performance Experiment

Invention and imagination come to the fore at the Center for Performance Experiment,
located on Devine St. Established in 2009, the CPE is a unique performance space
dedicated to actor training, which presents new and traditional works in exciting,
experimental ways!

Facilities for Rent

Many of our facilities are available for rent to university or outside groups. For rental information, contact Andy Mills at ajmills@mailbox.sc.edu or call 803-777-8049. Organizations not affiliated with the University of South Carolina
must carry $1,000,000 liability coverage.

An inventory of sound and lighting equipment is available and advance notice of 12 to 18 months is typically required for rental of any of our available
venues.

1300 Greene StreetColumbia, SC 29208

This familiar campus landmark, built along the lines of a Roman temple, was designed
originally as a chapel and auditorium before the Civil War. During the building's
colorful history, it has served as a Civil War military hospital, state legislature
meeting site, arsenal and armory, science facility, and gymnasium. In 1976, the building
was remodeled to an arena theatre.

Located at the corner of Sumter and Greene Streets, Longstreet Theatre is a 312-seat
arena stage. The stage deck includes a hydraulic elevator that allows scene shifting
from the basement during performances. Productions can be staged fully in-the-round,
or, with the removal of a section of seating, in the 3/4 thrust style. A wire mesh suspension grid is 21'-0" above the stage deck. Technicians walk
on the wire mesh to mount the lighting equipment.

There are four dressing rooms: two located under the stage level (2nd floor) and two
located on the first floor. Access is by stairwell. All dressing rooms have mirrors,
make-up lights showers, sinks, lavatories and costume racks.

Longstreet Theatre is handicap-accessible and includes a dedicated area for wheelchair
seating.

1214 College Street Columbia, SC 29208

Across a small park from the Longstreet Theatre sits the Drayton Hall Theatre. Drayton
Hall was once the auditorium for the University High School that closed in 1966. The
theatre is connected to the present Wardlaw School of Education. The well-known sculpture
in front of Drayton Hall, the Torchbearer, was contributed to the university by artist
Anna Hyatt Huntington.

Located on College Street between Sumter and Greene Streets, this 404-seat proscenium
theatre was renovated in 1989. There are two dressing rooms located under the stage
floor. Access is by stairwells located stage right and stage left. Both dressing rooms
have mirrors, make-up lights showers, sinks, lavatories and costume racks.

Drayton Hall Theatre is handicap-accessible and includes dedicated areas for wheelchair
seating.

1400 Wheat StreetColumbia, SC 29208

The Lab Theatre is our black box performance space, established as a laboratory for
undergraduates to explore new ideas and put classroom studies to practical use. The
Lab can accommodate a variety of seating arrangements, seating approximately 100 patrons
comfortably. The theatre has limited lighting and sound capabilities.

Performance Venue Locations

Longstreet Theatre 1300 Greene St., corner of Sumter and Greene Sts.

Drayton Hall Theatre1214 College St., corner of Sumter and College Sts.